Optimism produces scientifically measurable improvements in immune function. Being optimistic improves health.
Optimistic Expectancies and Cell-Mediated Immunity: The Role of Positive Affect
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933956/
Quote.. “These results provide the first evidence that changes in optimistic expectancies are accompanied by changes in immunity, as well as the first evidence for a mechanism by which this effect occurs.”
“Optimistic expectancies have a number of psychosocial effects. These results add evidence that expectancies also affect immunity and, potentially, health. Importantly, this is the first evidence that expectancy change correlates with immunological change. The results also support the independence of positive and negative affect with regard to their relationships to both expectancies and immunity (Pressman & Cohen, 2005; Stone et al., 1987). Although optimistic expectancies associate with both increased positive affect and decreased negative affect, it may be as important for immunological health for people to be happy than to lack anxiety.”
Optimistic Expectancies and Cell-Mediated Immunity: The Role of Positive Affect
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3933956/
Quote.. “These results provide the first evidence that changes in optimistic expectancies are accompanied by changes in immunity, as well as the first evidence for a mechanism by which this effect occurs.”
“Optimistic expectancies have a number of psychosocial effects. These results add evidence that expectancies also affect immunity and, potentially, health. Importantly, this is the first evidence that expectancy change correlates with immunological change. The results also support the independence of positive and negative affect with regard to their relationships to both expectancies and immunity (Pressman & Cohen, 2005; Stone et al., 1987). Although optimistic expectancies associate with both increased positive affect and decreased negative affect, it may be as important for immunological health for people to be happy than to lack anxiety.”
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